Pengaruh Komposisi Selulosa sebagai Bahan Pengisi pada Komposit Poliester Tidak Jenuh

Abstract

Cellulose which derived from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) wastes can be potentially used as fillers in composite materials. The study on the utilization of cellulose as filler in polyester matrix had been done with the purpose to obtain the best cellulose fillers composition in Unsaturated Polyester (UPR) composites in producing mechanical properties such as: tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and water absorption. In this research, UPR was mixed with cellulose with mass ratio 95:5; 90:10; 85:15; and 80:20 by using hand lay-up method. The result of FTIR characterization shows that bonding between matrix and fillers is mechanical anchoring, hyroden bonding and Van der Waals forces. The results of mechanical properties shows at ratio of UPR : cellulose 95:5, the maximum tensile strength obtained is 21,518 MPa. Meanwhile the value of Young's Modulus continues to increase while the value of elongation at break decreases as the amount of cellulose increases. An analysis of flexural strength properties shows that increasing of it’s value occurs at ratio 95:5 of 50,872 MPa. An analysis of impact strength properties shows that increased occurs only at ratio 95:5 of 5094 J/m2 . The results of mechanical properties are supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In water absorption test, the higher water uptake occured at the first hour and the water uptake will increase as the amount of fillers rise.